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Coffee grounds recycling technology and valorization

6 min read

From: mk_thisisit

Coffee grounds, a significant waste product, are being transformed into valuable resources through innovative recycling technologies. In the European Union, thousands of tons of coffee grounds are produced daily, typically ending up as mixed or bio waste [01:01:01]. A Polish startup, ecobin, founded by Marcin, is pioneering a unique technology to fully valorize these grounds, leaving nothing behind [01:23:00].

The Challenge of Coffee Waste

Coffee is one of humanity’s most energy-intensive consumed goods [01:10:10]. In Europe alone, 9,000 tons of coffee grounds are generated daily [00:00:00] [11:01:00]. Currently, these grounds are mainly discarded as mixed waste or, at best, go to composting plants, which represents a very low level of processing and valorization [00:00:00] [11:11:00]. This presents a considerable challenge, as the European recycling market for coffee grounds is valued at 26 billion euros [00:00:00] [11:41:00].

In Poland, approximately 235,000 tons of coffee grounds are created annually [00:00:00] [02:37:00]. Given that the average Pole drinks over 3.5 kilograms of coffee per year, this results in about 5 kilograms of coffee grounds per person [00:00:00] [02:14:00].

ecobin’s Innovative Biorefinery Technology

ecobin’s technology represents the highest level of biorefinery, enabling the recovery of valuable ingredients from coffee grounds for reuse [00:00:00] [11:21:00]. What makes their method unique is that it fully valorizes the grounds, ensuring “nothing remains after this process” [00:00:00] [01:00:00] [09:51:00]. All components are separated and utilized, resulting in products with a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to market alternatives [00:00:00] [09:57:00]. This contributes to environmental impact and sustainability in recycling efforts and helps companies meet climate neutrality goals [00:00:00] [10:22:00].

The company is currently in the patenting stage, aiming to be the first globally with such a verified technology [00:00:00] [01:46:00]. They are applying for patent protection in multiple regions, including Polish, American, European, South American, and Great Britain [00:00:00] [10:35:00].

Economic Potential

Processing one ton of coffee grounds can yield raw materials for further processing valued at €8,000. ecobin’s R&D department is striving to extract even more value, aiming for €20,000 (100,000 PLN) from one ton of processed grounds [00:00:00] [03:00:00].

Products Derived from Coffee Grounds

ecobin’s technology extracts multiple valuable components from coffee grounds, transforming them into new products:

  • Coffee Oil
    • Coffee grounds contain a large amount of fat, with approximately 15% extractable as coffee oil [00:00:00] [03:50:00].
    • Uses:
      • As an additive to biodiesel, offering an alternative to rapeseed, which requires dedicated cultivation land [00:00:00] [03:58:00]. Using coffee grounds provides “additional value” as it’s from waste [00:00:00] [04:17:00].
      • In the cosmetics industry [00:00:00] [04:25:00].
      • In the food industry as a flavor carrier or dye [00:00:00] [04:27:00]. This creates a “closed object” or “eternally alive” product [00:00:00] [04:49:00].
  • Biodegradable Materials
    • Coffee lignin, a natural polymer, is mixed with a polymer (polylactide PLA) derived from sugars in the grounds to create biodegradable materials [00:00:00] [05:03:00] [08:29:00].
    • This mixture, currently 50/50, is being developed to potentially become 100% coffee-based in the near future [00:00:00] [05:18:00].
    • These materials are similar to plastic in properties [00:00:00] [05:34:00].
    • Example products:
  • Coffee Protein
    • Natural protein extracted from coffee grounds [00:00:00] [06:51:00].
    • Trained bacterial strains process sugars from the grounds into lactic acid, which is then processed into a biodegradable polymer [00:00:00] [07:24:00].
    • This lactic acid can replace corn-derived lactic acid, offering a “game changer” as it comes from waste rather than specially cultivated crops [00:00:00] [07:46:00].
    • The resulting product is a “premium protein supplement” [00:00:00] [07:41:00], suitable for food or cosmetics industries [00:00:00] [07:09:00].
  • Antioxidants
    • Coffee grounds are a source of antioxidants, a desirable ingredient for both food and cosmetics, known for health benefits [00:00:00] [08:18:00] [20:56:00].

Factory Development and Business Model

ecobin’s technology was developed through a partnership with the Warsaw University of Technology, where they are a spin-off [00:00:00] [13:16:00]. The technology has progressed beyond the laboratory scale, utilizing “huge reactors, even 400 liters,” and is ready for commercial scaling [00:00:00] [13:36:00].

They are building a demonstration factory near Warsaw, which will process 1,000 tons of coffee grounds annually [00:00:00] [13:55:00]. This will be the largest coffee grounds recycling factory in the world in terms of its technological line [00:00:00] [14:35:00].

The company’s business model primarily focuses on cooperating with large coffee producers, who will constitute 70% of their grounds suppliers [00:00:00] [15:16:00]. The remaining 30% will come from consumers, cafes, restaurants, and offices [00:00:00] [15:07:00].

Challenges in Commercializing Recycling Technologies

Operating a technological startup in the waste industry in Poland presents “a huge huge challenge” [00:00:00] [22:56:00]. ecobin is sometimes perceived as a “waste mafia” by the administration because they aim to disrupt the existing market and introduce new standards and revenues [00:00:00] [23:14:00].

Regulatory hurdles and slow administrative processes for environmental permits can hinder progress, leading to situations where factories are built but cannot operate for years [00:00:00] [24:42:00]. While EU directives are the same across member states, Poland has developed a climate that maintains certain monopolies and resists changes or new technologies in waste management [00:00:00] [25:32:00].

Despite these business challenges, ecobin is expanding internationally, conducting pilot programs in Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, and Portugal [00:00:00] [00:34:00] [24:23:00]. This outward focus is partly due to legislative restrictions in Poland, which could temporarily “kill” their operations there [00:00:00] [25:21:00].

Outlook and Impact

ecobin aims to be an example of how the potential of universities can be utilized to develop technological startups, demonstrating that innovation can come from Poland, not just Cambridge or Harvard [00:00:00] [00:45:00] [28:08:00].

Consumer tests of products derived from coffee grounds are expected to begin next year [00:00:00] [17:17:00]. While some products like flowerpots may enter the market faster due to simpler regulatory requirements, mass-scale adoption of items like disposable coffee cups will depend on the factory’s construction and full operation [00:00:00] [17:52:00].

The trend towards recycling and caring for the environment is growing, with coffee shops and suppliers showing increased understanding and responsibility [00:00:00] [19:11:00]. Brands are now competing on environmental friendliness and carbon footprint reduction, driven by consumer demand [00:00:00] [19:58:00]. Almost 70% of people are willing to buy more ecological products [00:00:00] [20:36:00].

Home Use of Coffee Grounds

Traditionally, coffee grounds have been used for fertilizing gardens and flowerpots [00:00:00] [21:27:00] or as a natural body scrub by drying them and mixing with balm [00:00:00] [21:47:00].

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